Contents

Fictional
history

Pre-Crisis

Originally a Durlan (shapeshifting alien) name Ren
Daggle, Brande was frozen in human form by the deadly
Yorggian fever. Later it was revealed that Ren and his deceased
mate Zhay were Chameleon Boy's and his twin, Liggt's,
biological parents.[2] After
the death of his wife, he leaves the children with Zhay's sister,
Ji, and along with his brother-in-law, Theg, leaves Durla. Ren
Daggle became R.J. Brande, Theg would become his cousin Doyle
Brande (who would later indirectly cause the formation of the
Legion by sending assassins after Brande). Permanently in a human
form, he amassed a vast fortune by making stars, using advanced
technology to create suns for clients. He became one of the richest
men in the galaxy, and bought a private planetoid where he built
his mansion. His right-hand-man was Marla Latham, who he would
later assign to be the Legion's Adult Advisor. He becomes the major
financier for the Legion of Super-Heroes, and
founded the group with Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad after they saved his life
from Doyle's hired killers on a trip to Earth.[1]
He cared deeply for his Legion "pups", once offering Grimbor the
Chainsman his entire fortune to ensure their safety [3]. After
Earthwar, when the UP
President embezzled his fortune, Brande rejected the offer of
reimbursement, and started amassing a new fortune. Shortly
thereafter, his parental link with Reep Daggle, Chamelon Boy, was
discovered (but not publicly announced). The shock would drive Reep
to rash actions which would ultimately lead to a brief
incarceration on prison planet Takron-Galtos. While imprisoned, Reep
lost his powers due to the high radiation exposure caused by
Ol-Vir's super-vision. The pair fully reconcilled when father and
son returned to Durla to locate the legendary Temple which was said
to reinvingorate lost shapeshifting abilities. While Reep eagerly
stepped into the cascading energies, Brande refused, stating that
he had grown fond of his human form. [4] Months
later, he would survive yet another assassination attempt, this
time arranged by Leland McCauley IV. This would lead Brande to
undertake a long incognito personal odyssey which would last for
several years. [5]

Post-Zero
Hour

R. J. Brande plays much the same role in the Legion's origins.
Brande was originally planned to be revealed as the Martian
Manhunter, but JLA editor Dan Raspler vetoed the idea.[7] Still,
many hints that Brande is J'onn J'onzz exist in Legion comics.
Brande eventually becomes President of the United Planets, although
he loses the position during the "One Year Gap".[1]

Threeboot

Brande has not yet appeared in "Threeboot" continuity.
Although in Metropolis, Ultra Boy does confront some super-powered
punks in Brande Park.

In Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5, Starman has a copy of
"The Last Will and Testament of R.J. Brande" in the 21st
Century.

Other
Media

Television

R.J. Brande appeared in the Legion of Super
Heroes episode "In the Beginning" voiced by Lex Lang. As in the comics,
R.J. Brande is Chameleon Boy's (presumably biological, not
adoptive) father. Brande, here, is never mentioned to be a Durlan,
instead appearing as a heavyset, mustachioed, somewhat stereotypical wealthy Texan type. A flashback shows how R.J. first met Cosmic
Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl when they save him from an
attempt on his life. With the help of their powers, Cosmic Boy,
Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl discovered that this was
orchestrated by R.J.'s partner Roderick Doyle. Cosmic Boy,
Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl eventually foiled his plot to kill
him and take over the company. Some years later, he ends up
captured by Grimbor the Chainsman under the
orders of Roderick Doyle (who was posing as Senator Tolay at the
beginning of the episode). During a confrontation on one of the
Brande space stations, Roderick tried to take the Legion and R.J.
Brande with him by setting the satellites to form a black hole.
Cosmic Boy, Lightning Lad, and Saturn Girl managed to thwart this
and saved Brande.